PC fishers mark successful season, prepare for state
The fishing team participates in several different tournament trails throughout the year, including BCDA, ASABFA, Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation, Fishers of Men Legacy and FLW High School Fishing World Finals, Mansell explained.
The team started off the season with an Overall Team Win at the BCDA High School Tournament Trail in February with 13.61 pounds in their Top 3 Boats. At this same tournament, Isaac Cummings and Dakota Mansell finished in first place.
From the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation High School tournaments, the Phil Campbell team has two boats that will be advancing to fish the championship on Lake Eufaula in June: Cade Baker and Logan Hill on the high school level and Bynum Franks and Joshua Morgan on the junior level.
During the Fishers of Men Legacy series, Dakota Mansell and Shane Mansell finished in third place on Pickwick Lake.
During the Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing Association (ASABFA) tournament, teams are able to choose three of the six tournaments to fish to try to qualify for the State Classic, but at some of these tournaments they can fish in the extra boat tournament, which is separate from the ASABFA State Qualifier Tournament. Phil Campbell was able to send extra boats to both of these tournaments this year. At the Lake Martin ASABFA extra boat tournament in February, Kendric Baker and Joshua Morgan finished third, and Dakota Mansell and Eli Jackson finished sixth. Also, Kendric Baker and JO Morgan finished first at the Pickwick Lake ASABFA extra boat tournament.
The three lakes that Phil Campbell Fishing Team participated in during the ASABFA State Qualifying Tournaments were Smith Lake, Lake Neely Henry and Pickwick Lake. The ASABFA tournament Feb. 25 at Smith Lake was a 160-boat field tournament. Dakota Mansell and Isaac Cummings finished in fourth place with 14.52 pounds and received a $500 scholarship. Eli Jackson and Eric Allen finished in sixth place with 13.71 pounds. As a team, Phil Campbell Fishing Team finished in fourth place out of 37 schools.
The ASABFA tournament March 25 at Lake Neely Henry was a 189-boat field tournament. Levi Rodgers and Joshua Burcham finished in seventh place with 12.47 pounds, and Cade Baker and Easton Cummings finished in tenth place with 12.38 pounds. As a team, Phil Campbell Fishing Team finished in first place out of 45 schools.
The ASABFA tournament April 22 at Pickwick Lake was a 125-boat field tournament. Levi Rodgers and Joshua Burcham finished in 14th place. As a team, Phil Campbell Fishing Team finished in ninth place out of 30 schools. After fishing this tournament, Phil Campbell qualified for the ASABFA Class/State Championship Tournament on Lake Eufaula May 5-6. Phil Campbell will be going into this tournament as the No. 2 team in the state.
